Sinusitis Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's allergic rhinitis is related to service. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for sinusitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The Board has determined that further development is needed, including obtaining medical opinions to determine the nature and likely etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the appellant's neuroma between the third and fourth toes of the right foot and sinusitis are service-connected, with doubt resolved in favor of the appellant.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD and found new and material evidence. The Veteran's other psychiatric conditions are also being considered, but a remand is required to obtain VA treatment records and provide an adequate examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran had chronic symptoms of these conditions during active duty, which are now shown to be related to his military service. For asthma, a VA examination is needed to determine if it was present in service or due to his other conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis and sinusitis have been rated at 10 percent since July 26, 2006. The most recent VA examination did not show greater than 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side.

The Veteran's service-connected gastrointestinal disorder (status post-cholecystectomy with dumping syndrome, gastroparesis and GERD) is currently rated at 10 percent. The other conditions have not been granted increased ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia and sinusitis do not meet the criteria for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only, as they do not cause permanent loss of use of one or both hands or feet, ankylosis, or permanent visual impairment.

The Board finds that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and thus, cannot be presumed to have been exposed to herbicides. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of the claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for CVID (hypogammaglobulinemia) and bronchiectasis with vasomotor rhinitis and maxillary sinusitis prior to December 29, 2008 were denied.

The Board has restored the Veteran's original 10 percent rating for peptic ulcer disease, and denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, nasal/sinus disorder, and hiatal hernia with reflux esophagitis. The claim for an increased rating for peptic ulcer disease is granted.

The Veteran's sinusitis is rated at 30 percent, and his PTSD claim has been granted based on new evidence. The effective date for the PTSD rating is not specified.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's asthma and other service-connected conditions have not been found to warrant an extraschedular rating or a TDIU prior to October 25, 2006. The VA examinations and clinical records do not indicate that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 24, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of pneumonia and right pleural effusion, history of maxillary sinusitis, right ear hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not establish a current disability related to these conditions.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and sinusitis were found to be related to service exposure, with the Board granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling conflict for the Veteran's requested personal hearing. The only issue remaining is whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of chronic sinusitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to a 50 percent disability rating for sinusitis effective October 3, 2005. The evidence shows that his symptoms warranted this level of disability prior to that date.